Nutritional, physicochemical, and functional properties of Hawaiian taro (Colocasia esculenta) flours: A comparative study.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) flour is a viable carbohydrate alternative and a functional additive for food formulation; however, different taro varieties may possess distinct characteristics that may influence their suitability for food production. This study evaluated the nutritional, physicochemical, and functional properties of flours from five Hawaiian taro varieties: Bun-Long, Mana Ulu, Moi, Kaua'i Lehua, and Tahitian. Tahitian, Bun-long, and Moi had high total starch contents of 40.8, 38.9, and 34.1 g/100 g, respectively. Additionally, Moi had the highest neutral detergent fiber (25.5 g/100 g), lignin (1.39 g/100 g), and cellulose (5.31 g/100 g). In terms of physicochemical properties, Tahitian showed the highest water solubility index (33.3 g/100 g), while Tahitian and Moi exhibited the two highest water absorption indices (5.81 g/g and 5.68 g/g, respectively). Regarding functional properties, Tahitian had the highest water absorption capacity (3.48 g/g), and Tahitian and Moi had the two highest oil absorption capacities (3.15 g/g and 2.68 g/g, respectively). Therefore, the flours from these Hawaiian taro varieties possess promising characteristics that could enhance food quality when used as alternative additives in food processing.

Drought Stress Inhibits Starch Accumulation in Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott).

BACKGROUND: Colocasia esculenta L. Schott is a main traditional root crop in China, serving as an important vegetable and staple food. Drought stress plays vital role on the growth and development of taro corm. METHODS: Two different varieties of taro in Jiangsu were selected: Xiangsha taro and Longxiang taro. The accumulation characteristics, morphological structure, and physicochemical properties of taro corm starch were studied by microscopic observation, particle size analysis, and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis. Transcriptome analyses were used to identify the related genes of taro corm under drought stress. RESULTS: During the growth of taro, the number of amyloplasts showed an obvious increasing trend and shifted from being dispersed throughout the cells to being gathered on one side of the cells, and morphological observations showed that smaller granular distribution gradually changed to a larger lumpy distribution. The particle size of Longxiang taro is smaller than that of Xiangsha taro. Under drought stress conditions, the occurrence of starch grains and corm size were inhibited in Xiangsha taro. Transcriptome sequencing of drought-stressed taro corms showed that the enzymes related to starch synthesis were differentially expressed. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of drought-stressed taro corms showed that drought affected hormone signal transduction, material metabolism, drought stress tolerance, plant growth and development, and stress resistance, which triggered the plant drought adaptive response. CONCLUSIONS: Drought stress inhibits starch accumulation in taro.

Characterization of the physicochemical properties of Lipu Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott starch: A potential new food ingredient.

The physicochemical properties of Lipu taro starch (LTS), cassava starch (CS) and wheat starch (WS) were analyzed. These starches exhibited a comparable starch content (86 %). However, LTS had a significantly lower amylose content (15.93 %) compared to CS (26.62 %) and WS (33.53 %). Moreover, LTS demonstrated an irregular polygonal cubic morphology with a smaller particle size of 2.55 µm while possessed an A-type crystal structure with high crystallinity at 25.07 %. In contrast, CS and WS had larger particle sizes of 13.33 µm and 16.68 µm, respectively, with lower crystallinities of 22.52 % and 20.33 %. Due to these physicochemical properties, LTS exhibited superior emulsification properties with a higher emulsifying activity index of 8.63 m2/g and an emulsion stability index of 69.18 min, whereas CS and WS had values of 2.35 m2/g and 25.15 min, and 0.37 m2/g and 11.48 min, respectively. LTS also demonstrated enhanced thermal stability, characterized by higher gelatinization temperature (indicated by To, Tp, Tc, and ΔT) and reduced paste viscosity (indicated by PV, TV, FV, SBV, and BDV) compared to CS. However, the mechanical strength of the gel made from LTS (indicated by hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness) was comparatively inferior to those from CS and WS.

Effect of high voltage dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atmospheric cold plasma treatment on physicochemical and functional properties of taro (Colocasia esculenta) starch.

The goal of the proposed study is to investigate the effects of three different power levels (30, 32 and 34 kV) and exposure time (2, 4 and 8 min) of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atmospheric cold plasma treatment on the functional and physicochemical characteristics of taro starch. Investigations were done into how different treatments impact the multi-structural, functional and physicochemical attributes of taro starch. The findings showed that cold plasma treatments substantially impacted starch granule shapes (3.60-2.54 µm), such as reduced aggregations and developed fissures on granule surface due to the generation of an etching by plasma species and enhancement in the surface topography and roughness of treated starch as compared with native by SEM and AFM analysis. Besides this, no variations were detected in the functional groups of taro starch using FT-IR analysis after cold plasma treatments. However, the A-type pattern in the XRD did not affect it, while a reduction in relative crystallinity (14.20-11.50 %) was seen as a function of the active plasma species depolymerization. Furthermore, depending on the cold plasma voltage and treatment time, amylose content (20.12-15.98 %), paste clarity (24.48-31.27 %), solubility (0.41-65.53 %), freezing thaw stability (% syneresis) (32.10-42.58 %), color properties (L*, 94.79-97.52), whiteness index (79.37-84.66), molecular weight distribution (Peak 1, 12.79-5.35 × 108 g/mol; Peak 2, 4.20-1.56 × 107 g/mol) and in vitro digestibility (RDS, 64.10-64.08 %) significantly changed. So, based on these excellent properties, this study suggested that cold plasm-treated taro starch can be used in the field of food packaging material, functional food and pharmaceutical products. Therefore, a potential approach for physically altering starch is plasma treatment.

Preparation of Neohesperidin-Taro Starch Complex as a Novel Approach to Modulate the Physicochemical Properties, Structure and In Vitro Digestibility.

Neohesperidin (NH), a natural flavonoid, exerts multiple actions, such as antioxidant, antiviral, antiallergic, vasoprotective, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as inhibition of tumor progression. In this study, the NH-taro starch complex is prepared, and the effects of NH complexation on the physicochemical properties, structure and in vitro digestibility of taro starch (TS) are investigated. Results showed that NH complexation significantly affected starch gelatinization temperatures and reduced its enthalpy value (ΔH). The addition of NH increased the viscosity and thickening of taro starch, facilitating shearing and thinning. NH binds to TS via hydrogen bonds and promotes the formation of certain crystalline regions in taro starch. SEM images revealed that the surface of NH-TS complexes became looser with the increasing addition of NH. The digestibility results demonstrated that the increase in NH (from 0.1% to 1.1%, weight based on starch) could raise RS (resistant starch) from 21.66% to 27.75% and reduce RDS (rapidly digestible starch) from 33.51% to 26.76% in taro starch. Our work provided a theoretical reference for the NH-taro starch complex's modification of physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility with potential in food and non-food applications.

Exploring the anti-inflammatory potential of Colocasia esculenta root extract in in-vitro and in-vivo models of inflammation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Colocasia esculenta (CE) (L.) Schott is an annual herbaceous tropical plant from the family of Araceae which has been traditionally used for the healing of various ailments such as asthma, arthritis, internal hemorrhage, diarrhea, and neurological disorders. The plant is reported to have potential anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antimetastatic, anti-hepatotoxic, and anti-lipid peroxidative activities. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study is designed to explore the potential anti-inflammatory property of Colocasia esculenta methanolic root extract (CEMRE) on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model was used to investigate the in vivo anti-inflammatory action of CEMRE. Adult male Wistar rats (180-220 g; n = 6) were pre-treated with CEMRE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW) orally before 1 h of injection of 1% carrageenan. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg BW) was given orally as the standard drug. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandinE2 (PGE2), and cytokines levels were measured. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was done to identify the phytoconstituents present in CEMRE. The inhibitory activity of CEMRE was investigated against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in in vitro assessment of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The RAW 264.7 cells were pre-treated with Indomethacin (5 µM and 10 µM) and CEMRE (17 µg/ml and 34 µg/ml) followed by induction of LPS (1 µg/ml) for 24 h. Docking analyses were also performed to explore the interaction of important phytoconstituents (Sinapic acid, Acetylsalicylic acid, L-fucose, Salicylic acid, Quinic acid, Zingerone, and Gingerol) of CEMRE with COX-2 and iNOS. RESULTS: Pre-treatment with CEMRE (400 mg/kg) could inhibit the paw inflammation significantly which was elevated due to carrageenan induction. The inhibition is comparable to that of the standard drug Indomethacin. The concentration of serum AST, ALT, ALP, NO, PGE2 and cytokines were also considerably lowered in the CEMRE-treated group as compared to the carrageenan-induced group. CEMRE (34 µg/ml) inhibited the LPS-stimulated relative expression of mRNA of COX-2 and iNOS and significantly reduced the expression of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. Docking analyses revealed promising interaction with low binding energies between Sinapic acid with both the target proteins COX-2 and iNOS. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results suggested that CEMRE exhibited effective anti-inflammatory actions on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells by reducing the in vivo paw edema inhibition, inhibiting the serum NO, PGE2, cytokines and also reduced the in vitro production of NO, PGE2 along with expressions of mRNA COX-2 and iNOS. Molecular docking demonstrated good binding affinities among the target proteins and ligand Sinapic acid. Thus the bioactive compound from CE need to be isolated and purified.

Nutritional, phytochemical composition and potential health benefits of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) leaves: A review.

Colocasia esculenta(L) or taro is a tropical crop largely produced for its tubers (corms) while leaves and stems remain underutilized and untapped by-products with promising potential applications.Colocasialeaves are low in calories, rich in proteins, dietary fiber, and micronutrients. However, its utilization as food remains limited owing to the lack of awareness vis-à-vis its nutritional profile and the presence of antinutrients such as tannins, phytates and oxalates. The antinutritional factors can be overcome by cooking and varied processing techniques thereby unveiling the nutritional benefits. The high content of bioactive compounds and antioxidative potential of colocasia leaves renders several health benefits such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory activity. The paper reviews the available literature on the nutritional, antinutritional, phytochemical profile of taro leaves and the advanced analytical techniques for their identification and quantification. Further, its health benefits and food applications have been discussed.

Accumulation and physicochemical properties of starch in relation to eating quality in different parts of taro (Colocasia esculenta) corm.

The accumulation and physicochemical properties of starch affect the eating quality of taro corm. This study aims to investigate the accumulation, morphology, and physicochemical properties of starch from inner and outer tissues in the top, middle, and basal parts of taro corm. Structural and morphological observations showed that the inner tissues of the taro corm accumulated more starch, and the middle tissue had moderate amylose content and the largest granule diameter. Starch from different tissues exhibited A-type orthorhombic structure and similar nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum. The relative crystallinity of starch in the middle tissue was higher than that in the top and basal tissues. Compared with middle and basal tissues, starch from top tissue showed higher peak viscosity, pasting time, swelling power and solubility. Compared with the top and basal tissues, the middle tissue of taro corm exhibited higher index of eating quality including smell, texture, and total evaluation score. The results indicated that starches in various spatial parts of taro corm exhibit differences in accumulation, morphology, structure and physicochemical properties that lead to diverse eating qualities.

Functionalization of cellulose fibers alongside growth of 2D LDH platelets through urea hydrolysis inspired Taro wettability.

Here, Cotton fabric was functionalized via hybrid coating including 2D MgAl LDH (layered double hydroxide) and SA (stearic acid). The urea hydrolysis was employed for construction of vertically aligned LDH on surface of cellulose fibers under hydrothermal condition. The in situ formation mechanism of LDH on cotton surface was nucleation, growth, and interaction with activated cellulose chains. The partial cellulose ionization in the alkaline solution led to nucleophilic behavior towards electron deficient atom. The effect of different ageing, synthesis temperature, and amount of SA were investigated and optimized at 100 °C for 24 h with 0.05 M. The superhydrophobic surface architecture of treated cotton with hierarchical micro/nanostructure was inspired from the Taro leaf structure with continuous contact line presented WCA of 154 ° and CAH of 9 °. The Cotton@LDH@SA exhibited efficient oil/water separation after several washes (>90%) with good stain resistant. Also, the physico-mechanical properties were studied.

Isolation, characterization, modification and uses of taro starch: A review.

Taro is a major root crop utilized widely for diverse food and non-food applications. Taro corms are processed into various forms before consumption, which makes them digestible and palatable, extends the shelf life and reduces post-harvest losses. Taro corm contains starch as the major carbohydrate, accounting up to 70-80% of the whole dry matter. The starches obtained from different cultivars and sources significantly differ in physical, chemical, thermal, morphological, and functional properties, which can be explored for varied applications. Starch quality also controls the end-quality of food and industrial products. Several starch modification methods have been studied to improve its positive attributes and to eliminate deficiencies in its native characteristics. These modification methods, which can be categorised into physical, chemical and enzymatic, have proved to improve the characteristics and applications of starch. This review aims to compile the information about the chemical composition, characterization, isolation and modification methods, with an objective of its increased use in food or non-food industries. In addition, challenges and issues in the small-scale processing of taro are discussed. The information available in this review may help in a better understanding and utilization of taro starch.

Metabolite profiling, anti-inflammatory, analgesic potentials of edible herb Colocasia gigantea and molecular docking study against COX-II enzyme.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Consumable herbs play a basic part in sustenance and human health. Traditionally, Colocasia gigantea Hook (Araceae) is used to treat fever, infection, wounds healing, drowsiness, tuberculosis, stomach problems etc. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aspired to identify bioactive compounds, to evaluate anti-inflammatory and analgesic potentials of edible herb C. gigantea, and to molecular docking study against anti-inflammatory enzyme Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemical components of C. gigantea were discerned by HPLC and GCMS assays. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was appraised by heat-induced, hypotonicity, and hydrogen peroxide-induced hemolysis assays and in vivo by formalin-induced paw edema assay. In vivo analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid-induced pain modulation assay. Also, molecular docking of the identified compounds was explored against the anti-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. RESULTS: HPLC-DAD analysis divulged the presence of trans-cinnamic acid along with (-)-epicatechin as a prime component. Also, 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (37.86%) and n-Hexadecanoic acid (25.89%) as the major as well as 24 other compounds were confirmed through GCMS in the extract. In in vitro anti-inflammatory study, C. gigantea extract indicated prominent erythrocyte membrane stabilization activity with good percentage aegis in all experimental assays. In addition to, formalin-induced in vivo anti-inflammatory assay revealed the maximum (42.37% and 48.72%) suppression of edema at the fourth hour at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Moreover, an in-vivo pain modulation assay exposed significant (p < 0.05) activity at experimental doses. Furthermore, in the docking study, (-)-epicatechin was more active rather than other identified compounds with strong binding affinity to COX-2 protein. CONCLUSIONS: The extract evinced remarkable anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Identified bioactive components along with other components of the extract might play a pivotal role in the observed bioactivity and the results vindicate the use of edible herb C. gigantea in ancestral medicine.

New freeze-thaw method for improved extraction of water-soluble non-starch polysaccharide from taro (Colocasia esculenta): Optimization and comprehensive characterization of physico-chemical and structural properties.

This study investigated the effects of an improved extraction method that utilized freeze-thaw, termed improved conventional extraction (ICE), on the yield and properties of the water-soluble non-starch polysaccharide of taro (Tc-WS-NSP) and compared this method to the conventional extraction (CE) method. The freeze-thaw condition was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on yield. The use of the ICE method resulted in a 227.8% increase in yield of Tc-WS-NSP compared to the CE method. The Tc-WS-NSP-ICE had higher purity, lighter color, larger particle size, and higherζ-potential than Tc-WS-NSP-CE. Both of the samples contain the sugar arabinose, galactose, glucose, and mannose and exhibited comparative FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR spectra. The Tc-WS-NSP-ICE had a semi-crystalline structure resulting in higher thermal stability and had a higher consistency index than Tc-WS-NSP-CE. Overall, the use of the ICE method provided a simple, efficient, and green alternative to CE for the extraction of Tc-WS-NSP.

Taro Mucilage: Extraction, Characterization, and Application in Cosmetic Formulations.

Taro mucilage, a hydrocolloid present in the rhizome of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, was extracted and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and proximal composition. In addition, cosmetic formulations based on extracted mucilage were developed and studied. The mucilage presented a semicrystalline structure with high thermal stability, the presence of granules along its surface area, and good emulsifying activity. High physical-chemical stability was also found in the mucilage and the cosmetic formulations during storage. All cream samples presented pseudoplastic behavior, with a flow behavior index lower than 1, which is a desirable characteristic for cosmetics, as it improves its applicability. The mucilage demonstrates potential for application in cosmetic products, and its commercial use as an ingredient in cosmetics could be a strategic tool for the creation of a new product chain and adding value to the culture of Colocasia0 esculenta.

Use of flour from cormels of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott and Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott to develop pastes foods: Physico-chemical, functional and nutritional characterization.

The corms of cocoyams, specifically Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott and Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott are usually consumed as pastes. Nevertheless, the secondary corms, also named cormels, are not fully exploited. In this study, the chemical composition and functional properties of cormels from different botanical sources were evaluated, and the digestibility of the resulting pastes investigated. Colocasia spp. flour contained significantly higher protein (10.32% vs 9.65%), ash (5.65% vs 5.05%) and oxalates (0.32% vs 0.22%) content, and exhibited lower Amylab gel strength (773 g vs 1040 g) than Xanthosoma spp. flour. In the resulting pastes, micrographs revealed that starch gelatinization depended on cocoyam variety. Indeed, the very tight and closed microstructure of pastes containing Colocasia spp. flour led them to better stability during storage with lower syneresis. Lower protein digestibility was obtained in Colocasia spp. gels (67.56% vs 70.91%), but they showed faster (higher k) in vitro starch hydrolysis (0.0140 vs 0.0050) with lower estimated glycemic index (61.29 vs 65.84) than Xanthosoma spp. gels. The present findings offer ways to develop cocoyam based foods by using cormels, enhancing the applicability of cocoyams.

Physical-Chemical Crosslinked Electrospun Colocasia esculenta Tuber Protein-Chitosan-Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Nanofibers with Antibacterial Activity and Cytocompatibility.

BACKGROUND: Electrospun nanofibers based on Colocasia esculenta tuber (CET) protein are considered as a promising material for wound dressing applications. However, the use of these nanofibers in aqueous conditions has poor stability. The present study was performed to obtain insights into the crosslinked electrospun CET's protein-chitosan (CS)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) nanofibers and to evaluate their potential for wound dressing applications. METHODS: The electrospun nanofibers were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor and heat treatment (HT) to enhance their physicochemical stability. The crosslinked nanofibers were characterized by protein profiles, morphology structures, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and degradation behavior. Furthermore, the antibacterial properties and cytocompatibility were analyzed by antibacterial assessment and cell proliferation. RESULTS: The protein profiles of the electrospun CET's protein-CS-PEO nanofibers before and after HT crosslinking contained one major bioactive protein with a molecular weight of 14.4 kDa. Scanning electron microscopy images of the crosslinked nanofibers indicated preservation of the structure after immersion in phosphate buffered saline. The crosslinked nanofibers resulted in higher ultimate tensile strength and lower ultimate strain compared to the non-crosslinked nanofibers. GA vapor crosslinking showed higher water stability compared to HT crosslinking. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the crosslinked nanofibers showed a stronger bacteriostatic effect on Staphylococcus aureus than on Escherichia coli. Human skin fibroblast cell proliferation on crosslinked GA vapor and HT nanofibers with 1% (w/v) CS and 2% (w/v) CET's protein demonstrated the highest among all the other crosslinked nanofibers after seven days of cell culture. Cell proliferation and cell morphology results revealed that introducing higher CET's protein concentration on crosslinked nanofibers could increase cell proliferation of the crosslinked nanofibers. CONCLUSION: These results are promising for the potential use of the crosslinked electrospun CET's protein-CS-PEO nanofibers as bioactive wound dressing materials.

Taro starch: Isolation, morphology, modification and novel applications concern - A review.

Tuber and root crops are matured as fundamental food crops universally especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Among them, Taro (Colocasia esculenta) considered as 5th chief root crop due to its medicinal, ornamental and food formulation facets. Competitively it holds a considerable amount of starch even more than that to potato, sweet potato, cassava and so on. Taro corms starch (70-80%) contemplate as a cheapest abode for food industries due to its multifarious potentiality in food like stabilizer, emulsifier, fat substitute and as filler agent too. Baby foods, packaging material novelties, geriatric foods with resistant starch incorporation are the recently explored deliverables. Moreover, quality attributes of taro starch increases its behavioral versatility after modification competitively in a much better manner than native starch. This review aims to outline the current awareness about taro starch's molecular pattern, isolation procedures, properties, modifications and novel hit approaches for commercial viability. Gluten-free trait, hypoallergenic features and high digestibility are the additional benefits that widens its application scope to adapt better among pharma and textile in along with food sector.

Experimental techniques for the extraction of taro mucilage with enhanced emulsifier properties using chemical characterization.

The objective of this study was to analyze existing taro mucilage extraction techniques for extraction of a pure product with high emulsifying action to chemically characterize the mucilage. Five taro mucilage extraction techniques were analyzed which used room temperature, 4 °C, or 80 °C, with or without ethanol precipitation. Protein was detected in the mucilage extracted by each method and is ideal for the emulsifying action. Only mucilage extracted at low temperature and precipitated with ethanol did not contain starch, which is considered an impurity in the product. Therefore, from the tested techniques, cold extraction was found to provide mucilage with good emulsion activity and stability, making it possible to be used as a natural emulsifier. This mucilage is primarily formed by arabinogalactans connected to proteins which form AGP glycoprotein, a macro-molecule responsible for the emulsifying action.

Extraction of Graphene Nanostructures from Colocasia esculenta and Nelumbo nucifera Leaves and Surface Functionalization with Tin Oxide: Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Properties.

Expeditious evolution of antimicrobial resistance in recent years has been identified as a growing concern by various health organizations around the world. Herein, facile and environmentally benign production of highly antibacterial carbonaceous nanomaterials from Colocasia esculenta and Nelumbo nucifera leaves is reported. After carbonization and oxidative treatment, smaller graphene domains are formed in Colocasia esculenta derivatives, whereas larger sheetlike structures are observed in the case of Nelumbo nucifera. Smaller particle size makes quantum confinement effects more prominent, as is evident in fine-tuning of the photoluminescence emission after each stage of treatment. The influence of precursor materials on the antibacterial properties of the nanosystems is also demonstrated. When microbiocidal activity was tested against model bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the nanocomposite derived from Colocasia esculenta leaves showed higher activity than the antibiotic drug clarithromycin (control) with a measured zone of inhibition of 40±0.5 mm. This is one of the highest values reported in comparison with plant-based carbon-silver nanosystems. Quantitative analysis revealed that the nanocomposite obtained from Colocasia esculenta leaves has antimicrobial efficacy equivalent to those of commercial antibiotic drugs and is able to eradicate bacteria at much lower concentrations than that obtained from Nelumbo nucifera leaves.

Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Benefits of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Corms, an Underexploited Tuber Crop.

Taro corms contain valuable bioactive molecules effective against cancer and cancer-related risk factors, such as carcinogens and biological agents, several pathophysiological conditions, including oxidative stress and inflammation, while controlling metabolic dysfunctions and boosting the immunological response. Such broad effects are achieved by the taro health-influencing compounds displaying antitumoral, antimutagenic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. Taro bioactivities are attributed to the combination of tarin, taro-4-I polysaccharide, taro polysaccharides 1 and 2 (TPS-1 and TPS-2), A-1/B-2 α-amylase inhibitors, monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs), digalactosyldiacylglycerols (DGDGs), polyphenols, and nonphenolic antioxidants. Most of these compounds have been purified and successfully challenged in vitro and in vivo, proving their involvement in the aforementioned activities. Although these health-promoting effects have been recognized since ancient times, as well as other valuable features of taro for food profit, such as hypo-allergenicity, gluten-free, and carbohydrates with medium-glycemic index, taro crop remains underexploited. The popularization of taro intake should be considered a dietary intervention strategy to be applied to improve the overall health status of the organism and as supportive therapy to manage tumorigenesis.

Taro-corms mucilage-alginate microspheres for the sustained release of pregabalin: In vitro &in vivo evaluation.

Taro corms mucilage (TCM)-alginate microspheres had been prepared using TCM and alginate as blend and coated form in various ratios through inotropic gelation approach. The prepared microspheres have been of sphere-formed having coarse surface with average particle size within the range 498 µm ±â€¯0.17 to 715 µm ±â€¯0.34. The drug entrapment efficiency was 74.33 ±â€¯0.04% to 89.63 ±â€¯0.01% and swelling of microspheres followed the pattern (blended >coated >plain). FTIR research showed that there had been no interactions among pregabalin and polymers used; these microspheres were further characterized by DSC and XRD. The in vitro drug release followed sustained release (Korsmeyer-Peppas model) pattern (R2 = 0.9552-0.9906) and value of n > 1 showed that drug released by means of anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion. The in vivo research established that there were highly significant difference with p < 0.001 within the pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, t½, AUC0-∞, Ke), while pregabalin microspheres in comparison to pure drug. Therefore, it is concluded that blended microspheres has greater bioavailability for pregabalin with sustained release effect. This evolved that TCM has been proved to be emerging potential pharmaceutical excipient for sustained release drug delivery systems.